Our Buildings

We live and breath our mission statement.

Build with discipline means:

• We choose materials because they preform, not because they are cheap or trendy

• Jobsites are clean and organized

• Processes are followed even when its inconvenient

• Honest updates when things change

Deliver with pride Means:

• Doors and Hardware aligned and tested

• Trim with clean lines and tight details

• The site is clean when we leave

• If a mistake is made, we own it

Exceed expectations means:

• Catching potential issues early

• Proactive updates

• Bad news delivered with a plan

• Interactive Design in addition to 2D drawings

• Glue-lam Posts set with brackets instead of treated posts

• J- Channel around man doors instead of brickmold

At Midstate Builders, we believe an informed client makes the best client. One of the most important decisions in any barn build is the foundation system. It's what everything else rests on, literally. We offer two foundation options, and we want you to understand exactly what you're getting with each.

Option 1: Concrete Cookie with Treated Post

This method uses a precast concrete pad placed at the bottom of a drilled hole, with a pressure-treated wood post set on top and backfilled with compacted material. It's a common approach in the industry and can serve well for smaller or budget friendly structures.

That said, Michigan's climate presents real challenges for this system. Pressure-treated posts in direct ground contact are constantly exposed to soil moisture, which accelerates decay over time regardless of the treatment. This option typically carries a shorter service life than our recommended alternative.

Option 2: Poured Footing with Post Bracket and Laminated Post

This is the foundation system we recommend at Midstate Builders, and the one we stand behind for quality builds across Michigan.

The process begins by drilling down below the frost line, in Michigan, that means going deep enough to ensure ground movement doesn't shift your structure season after season. Concrete is then poured into the footing holes and a post bracket is set into the wet concrete. An laminated post is then secured into that bracket.

Here's why that matters:

• Frost line depth — Footings set below Michigan's frost line prevent the heaving and lateral shifting that can rack a structure out of square over time

• Brackets set in concrete — By placing the brackets into the concrete before it cures, they become fully integrated into the footing, not fastened after the fact, creating a stronger, more secure connection.

• Engineered Lumber — Laminated Lumber is stronger, straighter, and more stable than standard dimensional lumber. It resists the warping, twisting, and splitting that Michigan's humidity and temperature swings cause in conventional posts

• Durability — Combined, these elements produce a foundation designed to perform for decades with minimal maintenance

Our Commitment to You

At Midstate Builders, we don't cut corners on the parts of your building you can't see. The poured footing, post bracket, and Laminated post represents a higher upfront investment and a significantly better long-term outcome. We're upfront about that because we'd rather build you something right the first time than have you dealing with structural issues down the road.

We're happy to walk through both options with you, answer your questions, and help you determine what makes the most sense for your project. Contact Midstate Builders today to start the conversation.

At Midstate Builders, every decision we make during the framing process is intentional. We use methods and materials that produce a straighter, stronger, and more durable building and we want our clients to understand why.

Girts

Our wall girts are framed with 2x6 lumber. We choose 2x6 over the industry-standard 2x4 because it is a significantly sturdier board, and it allows us to space our girts further apart without sacrificing strength or performance. The result is a cleaner, more efficient wall structure that is built to handle Michigan's wind loads and the demands of the long term.

Straightening and Securing with Chains

One of the things that sets Midstate Builders apart during the framing process is how we straighten and secure the building. Rather than using dimensional lumber bracing, we use chains. Chains give us a level of adjustability that rigid lumber simply cannot match — allowing us to fine-tune the building's alignment throughout the framing process until everything is perfectly plumb and square. The chains remain in place until both the roof steel and wall steel are fully installed, ensuring the structure stays true from start to finish.

Trusses and Header Connection

Trusses are spaced 2 feet on center, providing consistent support across the entire span of the building. Each truss is set on a header, and secured to it using truss blocks — a reliable connection method that locks each truss in place and ensures the load is properly transferred down through the structure.

OSB Sheathing on the Top Chord

Once the trusses are set and secured, OSB (Oriented Strand Board) is attached directly to the top chord of the trusses. This sheathing adds rigidity to the roof structure and provides a solid, uniform surface for the roof steel to fasten to.